Page 23 of The Duet

“Did you want to talk to me about something specific?” We’ll be back on the road in a few minutes and inquiring minds want to know.

“Yeah, but, to be honest, I was going to ask you via text. It seemed easier that way.”

It hits me that what’s actually hardest about being on tour is having to deal with the various people you’re traveling with. The secrets. The indiscretions. The gossip. The expectations. All of it can become utterly exhausting.

“You’re Lana Lynch.” I arch up my eyebrows. “Just ask me.”

“Actually.” Lana runs a hand through her hair. “Would you like to have dinner with me tonight? In my room? We can talk then.”

My cheeks flush and I know I should just say yes, but it’s like the word, that stupid silly single word, is stuck a long way down my throat.

“Oh, not like that, Cleo,” Lana says. “I’m not asking you on a date, okay?” She stands there grinning as though the mere notion of her and me going on a date is preposterous. “I want to talk about our duet. The band and I have been discussing it and I just want to clear some things up. Mainly for myself.”

“Yeah, sure. We can have dinner.” My cheeks are still burning. How is it that I can go on stage with this woman, sing the sexiest song alongside her without breaking a sweat, but not casually accept a platonic, tour-related dinner invitation? The answer is easy enough. “I’ll see you then.”

“Great,” Lana shouts after me as I hurry back to the bus.

Chapter 15

Lana

“Our duet is ruffling some feathers,” I say to Cleo. “More than I had expected.” After my little chat with Deb and Sam, it’s impossible for me to look at Cleo in the same light. My bandmates have put this idea in my head—that there’s something more between us; even something akin to what Joan and I had—and now I can’t stop thinking about it. On the long bus ride, I’ve had plenty of time to consider how unfair it is that I’ve banished the rest of The Lady Kings from the stage for the apotheosis of every single one of our shows. It wasn’t my intention when I first asked Cleo to sing with me, but then we started rehearsing, and it all suddenly made perfect sense. And there’s no doubt the audience loves it.

“Apparently.” Cleo seems a little on edge—a long day on the road without the release of playing will do that to you.

“I find myself between a rock and a hard place.”

“How do you mean?” Cleo leans against the windowsill. She’s too antsy to sit.

“I don’t want to fall out with my band over this, but by now, even though we’re only a few shows into this tour, it already feels like something we can’t deny the audience. Because of the internet and how it raises expectations.”

“How about we don’t sing it a cappella then? Let the rest of the band come back out to play?” Cleo says.

I nod, because it makes sense. But it also wouldn’t be the same. “I was thinking we might do a couple of run throughs with the band at sound check tomorrow? Or maybe just add guitar. We’ll have to see. Are you up for that?”

“It’s your song and your gig, Lana. It’s up to you.”

“I wouldn’t want you to think you’re just some kind of prop to me. What you bring to that song is vital.” By now, I’ve watched quite a few recordings of “I Should Have Kissed You”. “We don’t need the band for that song. That’s the simple truth. Sam and Deb can accept that, but I’m not sure Billie can, and things with Billie are a little complicated at the moment.”

“She told me she liked me,” Cleo says. “I’ve been mulling it over and it was a bit inappropriate, actually.”

“Sorry about that.”

“It’s hardly your fault.” She huffs out some air. “At first, I thought Jess had invited her to ride with us so she could grill Billie about you.”

“It’s all a bit silly, isn’t it?” I settle next to Cleo, leaning against the windowsill. “Jess has a crush on me. Billie has a crush on you. It’s like high school all over again.”

“That’s how it is when you put a bunch of people together for a longer period of time, although Jess has had a crush on you since she was twelve—long before we started The Other Women, so it’s not really the same, it’s just confrontational for her because we’re on tour with you now.”

“Jess’s infatuation with me is not a problem for me. I will always try to be respectful toward her, but it’s not something that keeps me up at night. Is it an issue for you?”

Cleo shrugs. “She tends to go on about you and perhaps reads too much into certain situations, but it doesn’t bother me. Billie on the other hand… It’s different. She did apologize, but she seems like a bit of a loose cannon, to be honest.”

There’s a knock at the door. That must be dinner.

“I hope you’re hungry.” I walk to the door and let in two men who make a spectacle of setting the table for us, pulling our chairs back, and simultaneously lifting the silver cloches to reveal what is underneath.

Once we’ve taken a few bites—and had a few sips of wine—I ask, “I take it you’re not interested in Billie in that way?”

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